Serve bread and cheese together for a delightful treat or part of a meal.
A traditional cheese course, served after the entree and before dessert, includes a variety of cheeses and a generous serving of bread. There are more than 400 different kids of cheese, so be sure to experiment with different kinds. Place bread and a selection of cheeses in the center of the table for diners to cut wedges and slices for themselves.
Instructions
1. Consider the overall theme of your meal and the tastes of your guests. If you know your guests like strong, flavorful foods, buy a collection of sharp cheddar cheeses or pungent blue cheeses. If your guests are tentative, assemble a variety of mild cheeses such as Brie and fresh mozzarella.
2. Remove the cheese from the refrigerator one hour prior to serving. Cheese is more enjoyable to eat and more flavorful when it is served and eaten at room temperature. Place the bread in a 200-degree oven for 10 minutes prior to serving so that the crust gets crispy and the inside gets warm and soft.
3. Place the loaf of bread on a cutting board and cut two slices using a sawing motion and gentle pressure with a long, sharp, serrated bread knife. Serving the bread with a few slices already cut encourages guests to take some and slice more.
4. Place the cheese selection -- no more than three or four -- on a small wooden cutting board of glass plate. Slice two or three thin shavings of the sharp cheeses with the paring knife or cheese slicer and leave them on the plate or board. This gives your guests a chance to small sample strong flavored cheeses before taking more. Place a sharp knife beside hard cheeses so that your guests may slice more for themselves.
5. Apply gentle pressure with a cheese spreader to soft cheeses and transfer the cut piece to one of your guest's plate or to your own plate. Place the spreader beside the wedge or block of soft cheese and encourage your guests to help themselves.
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